By the time I reached my office—the agreed meeting place—the room was already clean of the mountains of paperwork, and Mr. Wickham was already waiting inside. Zeke gave me a curt bow before leaving the room, allowing us to talk in private.
"Good evening, Mr. Wickham," I offered him my kindest smile, allowing him to take a seat on the sofa. "Please forgive me for my tardiness. I shouldn't have kept such an important man like you waiting. I'm sure you must be a very busy man," I said, and he only smiled awkwardly, not knowing what to say in response. Perhaps it was because he didn't know whether I was being sincere or sarcastic with my words.
"Lord William, thank you for inviting me to your manor," he bowed down, his hands clasped together in front of his protruding belly. "It is truly an honor for me to be here."
